Environment and health

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[edit] Introduction

A clean environment is essential for human health and well-being. However, the interactions between the environment and human health are highly complex and difficult to assess. This makes the use of the precautionary principle particularly useful. The best-known health impacts are related to air pollution, poor water quality and insufficient sanitation. Much less is known about the health impacts of hazardous chemicals. Noise is an emerging environment and health issue. Climate change, depletion of stratospheric ozone, loss of biodiversity, and land degradation can also affect human health.

Frequently the environmental burdens of industry, waste, and energy production fall disproportionatally on lower socioeconomic and minority populations because they are less likely to be able to mount a costly campaign in opposition. The concept that these burdens should be equitably distributed across economic and racial groups is referred to as environmental justice. Environmental_Justice_Assessment_Report